Colors From Around the World

The following colorants have come from places all across the globe. They are just a small sampling of the many colorants that have been and currently are available worldwide. Some of these colorants can be found in antique maps, while others have played important roles in famous paintings and beautifully dyed cloths. Today many of these colorants are no longer in use and the methods of their extraction are no longer practiced. However, a few of them are still quite popular; in fact, you might come into contact with some of these colorants on a daily basis and not even know it.

lake /lāk/ An insoluable pigment made from a soluable organic dye and an insoluable mordant base or carrier.

dye /dī/ A natural or synthetic substance used to add a color to or change the color of something.

pigment /ˈpigmənt/ A dry insoluable substance, usually pulverized, which when suspended in a liquid vehicle becomes a paint, ink, etc.